Patriotism is a value to be celebrated and appreciated. Being willing to lay down your life to preserve the freedoms we all hold dear is a selfless act that every citizen in America is profoundly grateful for.

And if you are an American military veteran, your service to our country may entitle you to more than that deep gratitude. It may make you eligible to be recognized and rewarded by the Military Resource – VA Aid and Attendance Benefit. It’s a pension worth up to $2,642 a month for qualifying veterans and their spouses who receive services at a senior living community or in other living arrangements.

What Exactly is The Military Resource – VA Aid and Attendance Benefit ?

This is a program set up by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that provides eligible U.S. Military Veterans and their wives or husbands with monthly tax-free income to offset the costs of the services and amenities they need to help them live life to the fullest in their senior years.

Wondering if You Might Qualify?

Here’s a checklist to determine whether or not you can take advantage of this valuable benefit. You and your spouse may qualify if:

• You served at least one day of active wartime duty in a U.S. military branch during World War II, the Korean Conflict or the Vietnam War.
• You served at least 90 days of active duty and received an honorable, medical, or general discharge. (You have to have served 24 months of active duty if you served in the Gulf War.)
• You have a net worth of $150,538 or less.
• You need help with at least two of the following activities:
• Eating
• Bathing
• Dressing
• Getting in and out of bed
• You have physical or cognitive problems like:
• Dementia
• Alzheimer’s disease
• You have low vision issues such as:
• Macular degeneration
• Being declared legally blind



You can also receive this pension if you need help but are living at home, spend time in adult day care, or are a resident of an independent living, memory care, or skilled care nursing home community.

While the Military Resource – VA Aid and Attendance Benefit can be a godsend for qualifying U.S. military veterans and their spouses, it can be a little tricky to apply for. In 2018, the program’s application process became more involved because it requires a detailed 3-year “look-back” period to see whether the veteran’s finances and health care needs make them eligible.

If you like, you can get the forms and apply on your own. However, if you need help, it’s there for the asking. There are a variety of third-party companies who have experience in guiding veterans through the process and helping them make sure they meet the eligibility requirements.

Your military service was a gift to our country. Getting financial help from the Military Resources – VA Aid and Attendance Benefit is a thank you that can help you and your spouse cover the cost of services to make life in your senior years easier and more enjoyable.

MorningStar Senior Living — Assisted Living Community




If your loved one lives far from family and friends, it could be time to move into an assisted living community near their adult children where they’ll have the companionship of fellow seniors and a compassionate service team. At MorningStar Senior Living, a 24/7 team is dedicated to offer care and hospitality services that meet each resident’s social, emotional, physical, and spiritual needs.